New York Science Journal 2013;6(1) http://www.sciencepub.

net/newyork

Lead, zinc and strontium distribution in the oxidation zone, wadi abu ghorban Deposits, Red Sea Coastal
Zone, Egypt.

Sayed M. Sakr

Al- Azhar University, Faculty of Science, Geology Department

sayedsk2000@yahoo.com

Abstract: the lead, zinc and strontium distribution in the oxidation zone of miocene sulphide mineralization occurs at
abu ghorban area, red sea coastal zone of egypt was studied. The sulphide ore body is recorded in sandy limestone,
consists of argillicdolomite breccias surrounded by abu dabbab miocene formation. The primary recorded ore
minerals are galena (pbs), sphalerite (zns) and celestite srso4. Supergene minerals are cerussite [pb (co)3], shannonite
[pb2oco3], lanarkite [pb2(so4)o], lead oxide sulphate [pbso4.pbo], lead silicate hydroxides [pb10(si2o7)3(oh)2], smithite
[agass2], embolite [ag (br, cl)], smithonite [znco3], hemimorphite [zn4si2o7(oh)2.h2o], zinc sulphite [znso3], zinc
chromium oxides [zncr2o4], and strontium dolomite [mgsr(co3)]. Principal gangue minerals are calcite, dolomite
(occasionally smoky), ankerite and quartz. The highest contents of pb (up to 1270 ppm), zn (up to 3400 ppm) and
mo (up to 200 ppm) are recorded in the rocks of the fault zone. High content of both pb and mo is recorded in the
overburden located nearby the fault zone as well. The bed rock chemical analysis indicates presence of cu (up to 219
ppm), pb (up to 82 ppm), zn (up to 699 ppm) and sr (up to 9932 ppm) reflecting presence of disseminated ore
minerals. Moreover, these ore minerals and element distribution favour that, this oxidized mineralized zone
represents an upper zone of a deposit. Its lower zone chiefly sphalerite can be expected at deeper level.
Lithogeochemical studies to re-evaluate the perspectives of abu ghorban deposit are recommended by drilling to
reach its lower zone.
[Sayed M. Sakr. Lead, Zinc and Strontium Distribution in the Oxidation Zone, Wadi Abu Ghorban Deposits, Red
Sea Coastal Zone, Egypt. N Y Sci J 2013;6(1):107-117]. (ISSN: 1554-0200). http://www.sciencepub.net/newyork.
17

Keywords: Wadi Abu Ghorban, Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Sulphides mineralization, Oxidation zones.

Introduction studied locality occupies about 6 km2 as narrow belt (1-

Lead zinc mineralization in the Red Sea coastal
zone occurs in 9 localities (Fig. 1a). Hassaan(11)
presented aspects of the mineral and chemical
composition of these deposits, their mode of occurrence,
factors controlling their localization and distribution,
the genesis of the mineralization and guidelines for
mineral exploration. The regional zoning pattern
exhibited the hydrothermal origin of iron-manganese,
copper and lead-zinc mineralization in the Red Sea
coastal zone. Besides, the factors influencing the
localization of the major deposits in its present position
in the Miocene formations may be used as guide for
future exploration in the area. In particular, outcrops of
Miocene Abu Dabbab and Essel formations cut by NW-
trending faults located between Wadi (W.) Sharm El
Bahary in the north and W. Abu Ghorban in the south
are considered the most promising localities for lead-
zinc deposits(11). Consequently, the present article is
established to outline the ore minerals and distribution
of Pb, Zn and Sr in the oxidation zone of W. Abu
Ghorban mineralization (Fig. 1b).
Wadi Abu Ghorban is located in the Red Sea coastal
zone, 55 km south of Quseir, 6.5 km SW of the bay of
Marsa Um Gheig about 3 km to the east of Um Gheig
Pb-Zn mine. The downstream of W. Abu Ghorban is
located at about 3 km from that of W. Um Gheig. The
4 km) striking NW. It is covered with Miocene clastic,
carbonate and evaporite sediments occasionally to the
east capped with recent terrace deposits. These
sediments rest with sharp angular dis-conformity upon
the Precambrian basement rocks that, exposed to the
east of the occurrence. The elevation of these outcrops
decrease generally towards the east till the present shore
line, whereas, the most conspicuous hill rises up to 207
m above sea level. In this province, arid climate
conditions are prevailing where; the annual ranges of
temperature are 36-18c in winter and 60-40c in
summer. The day-night temperature drops in night to
10c. Low sediments reworking is manifested due to
lack of rain fall precipitation. The precipitation usually
takes place once in several years in form of short lived
torrents.
Most of the previous studies consider the lead-zinc
deposits along the Red sea coast to be of hydrothermal
origin (8, 20, 9, 17, 19, 2, 7, 16, 10 & 11). Hassaan(11), verified the
hydrothermal origin of the lead zinc sulphide
mineralization in the Red Sea coastal zone based on
their mode of occurrence, the litho-structural
controlling factors in its present position, the
conspicuous wall rock alteration (Smoky dolomite), the
associated elements and the vertical and lateral local
zoning controlling Pb, Zn and Fe distribution. In this

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respect, the ore deposits are pitches and flats, gash veins
and disseminations(11) and are not bedded(11). Moreover,
Sabet et al., (16) supported the hydrothermal
metasomatic origin hypo- thesis(14) of the Red Sea Pb-
Zn mineralization affected by low temperature solution.
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Methods of study
Field work consisted of sampling surface sections
(viz; bed rock and detrital overburden samples) along
profiles traversing the fault and fault zone, adits and pits
to cover the zone of mineralization in W. Abu Ghorban.
A total of 66 samples were collected. Laboratory work
included thin sections and polished thin sections
examination (viz; 30 sections) in both refracted and
reflected polarized light. A total of 7 oxidized and
disseminated ore containing bed rock samples were
submitted for X-ray diffraction analysis. The X-ray
diffraction (XRD) analysis was carried out using the
Panalytical X'Pert pro (2009 model & date up to 2011)
with Cu tube and Ni filter starting [2Th.] At 4.01 and
ended at 89.99 position with step size 0.02 at the Lab.
Of Petroleum Research Center. Moreover, to achieve
the chief goal of this study, a total of 23 bed rock
samples were analyzed for Pb, Zn, Sr and associated ore
elements using X Ray Fluorescence (XRF) technique.
Furthermore, 30 detrital overburden samples and 13
mineralized samples were analyzed for both Pb and Zn
ore element using atomic absorption (A.A.). The
chemical analyses were done in the Nuclear Material
Authority using XRF and Atomic Absorption
instruments. The XRF accuracy of the analyses was
checked by running a number of international standard
reference samples as unknowns and comparing the
analytical results with stated reference values. The
Calibration of A.A. is performed using calibration
solutions at five different levels with international
standard reference. The quality control measures such
as stability, sensitivity and resolution check using an
optimization solution prior to analysis were taken.
Using the graphical method(13), the systematic and
random errors for the used instruments is considered
permissible.
Lithostratigraphy
At Wadi Abu Ghorban, the Pb-Zn mineral deposit is
hosted in lithological units of Miocene age (6, 11)). The
Miocene and younger sediments in Wadi Abu Ghorban
exhibit marked lithological change laterally and
vertically (Fig. 2). They rest dis-conformably and with a
depositional dip on older rocks.
The beds of Miocene and later sediments along the
Red Sea coast formed the subject of classical work of
Beadnell(1) and Cox(5). The more recent workers
classified these sediments into formations and members,
the most recent of which are those given in Table (1)
after Said(18) for the region south W. Um Gheig and
Hassaan(11) for the region from Ras Benas to Esh el
Mellaha range. In Wadi Abu Ghorban, the rock units
exposed shown in figure (3) are from base to top: Late
 New York Science Journal 2013;6(1)
Proterozoic igneous and metamorphic rocks,
Gebel el Rusas Formation (Fm.), Ambaut Fm., Abu
Dabbab Fm., Sharm el Bahary Fm. And
undifferentiated Neogene - Quaternary deposits. The
rock types of each formation are given in Table (1).
The Mineralization
The central part of Abu Ghorban Pb-Zn occurrence
has the coordinates, Lat. 254140" N and Long. 34
29 20" E. Abu Ghorban Pb-Zn occurrence is mainly
function in lithological and structural factors. This
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mineralization is confined to the NW strike zones of
faults and joints, whereas the highest mineralization is
obviously outcropping in the intersecting zones of NW
and sub-latitudinal faults. However, along with the
structural controlling factor, the lithology played an
important role in the Pb-Zn accumulation and
concentration in its present position. Lead-zinc
mineralization exists in calcareous rock units (clayey
limestone and sandy limestones) this is probably due to
their chemical activity with
 New York Science Journal 2013;6(1)
the Pb-Zn bearing hydrothermal solutions. Meanwhile,
the Pb-Zn mineralization in the oxidation zone is
marked with limonitization and hematization. Meantime,
this mineralization in oxidation zone extends for ~ 120
m length and ~10m width and occurs as thick nests of
Pb and Zn secondary minerals as well as hydroxides of
Fe and Mn. The sulphide ore body is recorded in sandy
limestones consists of argillicdolomite breccias
surrounded by Abu Dabbab formation, which forms the
hanging wall of the deposit, and rimmed by marl rock
units.
Celestite occurrence is located on the right bank of
the upper reaches of Wadi Abu Ghorban, seven kms
from the seashore and around 800 m to the south of
Abu Ghorban Pb-Zn occurrence. The central part of the
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locality has the following coordinates, Lat. 254110" N
and Long. 34 29 20" E. The outcrops in the
occurrence area comprise clastic-carbonate-evaporite
Miocene deposits (Fig. 4a). Meanwhile, celestite
mineralization is recorded within the fracture zone
striking NW, confined to brecciated limestones (Fig.
4b) of Ambaut Fm. And hematized evaporite deposits
of Abu Dabbab Fm. The NW fracture zone consists
chiefly of brecciated variegated (owing to presence of
lead, zinc and iron oxides, Fig (5) or bleached limestone,
argillite and quartz fragments occasionally observed in
the zone. Further celestite mineral is also detected
within the fracture zone of bituminous limestone that,
adjacent and rest onto granitoid rocks. The genesis of
the ore is vague. The preliminary results of prospecting
 New York Science Journal 2013;6(1)
May give evidence to a type of strontium mineralization
re-deposited by low temperature hydrothermal solution
in its present position. Yet celestite was also present
disseminated in high-porous and permeable sandstones
and brecciated unaltered limestones, this may indicate a
sedimentary digenetic type of strontium mineralization.
It should also be mentioned that, celestite
concentrations are met with close to the contact
between the basal clastic-carbonate and evaporite beds,
forming pitchs and flat mode of occurrence.
Consequently, the celestite concentration is probably
controlled by lithstratigraphic and structural factors as
the case is with the Red Sea belt polymetallic
mineralization(6).. The results obtained by studying the
thin polished sections of both transparent and opaque
minerals in refracted (Figs. 6-10) and reflected (Figs.
11-16) light that assured using XRD analysis (Figs. 17a
to 17f) reveal presence of galena (pbs), sphalerite (zns)
and celestite srso4. Oxidized ores are defined as a type
of ores in which over 30% of Pb and Zn occur in
combination with O2 as minerals of carbonates, oxides,
beside sulphides(4). The specificity of these oxidation
zones is conditioned by active sulphides oxidation
processes which cause creation of aggressive
sulfuric solutions (to ph under 1(15)). Acid rains are
of great importance in ore minerals and non-metallic
minerals transformation in technogenic landscapes.
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Nitrogen oxides NO x (to 30-50%) contained in acid
precipitation and products of their interaction with
water act as catalysis in the process of ore minerals
oxidation and leaching(15). Above the water level, with
constantly changing conditions in the oxidized zone, a
large mix of different Pb and Zn and other polymetallic
secondary oxidized minerals are recoded, namely;
Cerussite [Pb (CO)3], shannonite [Pb2OCO3], lanarkite
[Pb2(SO4)O], lead oxide sulphate [pbso4.pbo], lead
silicate hydroxides [Pb10(Si2O7)3(OH)2], smithite
[agass2], embolite [Ag(Br,Cl)], smithonite [znco3],
hemimorphite [Zn4Si2O7(OH)2.H2O], zinc sulphite
[znso3], zinc chromium oxides [zncr2o4], and strontium
dolomite [mgsr(CO3)]. The ore minerals show different
Styles particularly impregnation in dolomitic limestone,
cement of breccias, replacement ore and open space
filling in the dissolution cavities and fractures. Principal
recorded gangue minerals are calcite, dolomite, ankerite
and quartz. The ore minerals that are hosted by the
Miocene carbonate rocks show hydrothermal
dolomitization, dissolution and brecciation(11). A regular
decrease in the primary ore mineral in the mineralized
rock samples is manifested with the general trend of
decreasing hematiztion of the host rocks (viz; limonte
and hematite) and dolomitization (viz; smoky dolomite).
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Cerussite [pbco3], and shannonite [Pb2OCO3], are
lead carbonate minerals, usually found in the upper
oxidized zone of lead ore deposits. It is a very common
weathering product of galena and other lead ore
minerals. Because of the weak mobility of Pb ion, there
is a possibility of the development of Pb carbonates
during the initial phase of oxidation. This occurs
because of the influence of acidic solutions that allow
the oxidation of Pb+2 ions. Cerussite ores are
characterized by a high content of non-oxidized galena
(up to 26% of Pb content) and silver(3). Moreover,
Smithonite [znco3] is often found as a secondary
mineral in the oxidation zone of zinc ore deposits. It can
also be observed in sedimentary deposits and as a direct
oxidation product of sphalerite.
Thirteen analyses that collected from 3 adits in the
site of the mine recorded Pb, Zn and Mo (Table, 2).
From the table it is obvious that, the Pb is in range from
1270 to 280 ppm. The highest content of Pb is recorded
in adit III, where rocks are traversed by the fault zone,
while in adit II, far from the fault zone, Pb exhibits
lower content. Zinc and Mo distribution behaves similar
to Pb, where Zn content ranges from 3400 to 480 ppm
while Mo from About 200 to 20 ppm. The highest
content of both Zn and Mo is recorded also in adit III
Accumulation due to its low permeability and porosity
compared to sandy limestone and calcareous sandstones.
The accumulation and localization of the sulphide ore
minerals and Celestite along the fault zone in cherty
limestone is attributed to its low porosity, low
permeability and compactness, forming pitch and flat
modes. The recorded zoning sequence from the deeper
level to the top and lateral zoning along extension of the
ore body of Um Gheig(11) is Fe, followed by Zn,
followed by Pb. The analyses representing the oxidized
mineral-ization zone show predominant Zn content
compared to that of Pb. This most probably reflects that,
the studied oxidized mineralized zone represents an
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representing the fault zone. Zn content is much lower in
adit II and adit I compared to its content in adit III,
while Mo exhibits similar behavior in the oxidation
zone of adits II and I. This distribution is related to the
difference in mobility of the 3 elements in the oxidation
zone, where Zn is more mobile than Pb. Meanwhile Mo
distribution is related to that of Pb. Galena and
sphalerite are recorded in the studied samples, beside
cerussite, smithonite and hemimorphite. Such results
reflect the difference of mobility of these elements. This
difference in distribution is manifested by the 30
analyses of overburden (Table 3) collected along profile
perpendicular to the fault zone accumulated at the foot
of the slope of the oxidation zone. In this respect, Zn
reaches up to 1000 ppm and Pb up to 250 ppm.
However, high Pb and Zn contents are recorded in two
samples representing a site of accumulation of
transported overburden of the fault zone weathering
products. In this respect the hematization in the fault
zone is characterized by hydrate Fe and Mn oxides. The
highest anomalous content of both Pb and Mo is
recorded in the overburden located nearby the fault
zone. The limestone of Ambaut Formation is
considered by(11), as the capping rock of Pb-Zn sulphide.
Such rock unit is considered unfavorable for Pb and Zn
intermediate zone of Abu Ghorban deposit. This zone is
a mixed zone of the lower and the upper zones of both
Pb and Zn. Moreover, the recorded smithite and
embolite which are low temperature silver arsenic
sulphide and Ag bromide chloride minerals support
such interpretation as well. Moreover, these minerals
favour that, this oxidized mineralized zone represents
an upper part of a deposits, its lower part chiefly
sphalerite at deeper level can be expected. Twenty three
XRF analyses of the bed rocks indicated presence of Cu
(up to 219 ppm), Pb (up to 82 ppm), Sr (up to 9932 ppm)
and Zn (up to 699 ppm). These values may reflect
presence of disseminated ore minerals.
 New York Science Journal 2013;6(1)
Conclusions
1) The primary recorded ore minerals are galena (pbs),
sphalerite (zns) and celestite srso4. The supergene
minerals are cerussite [Pb (CO)3], Shannonite
[Pb2OCO3], Lanarkite [Pb2(SO4)O], lead oxide
sulphate [pbso4.pbo], Lead silicate hydroxides
[Pb10(Si2O7)3(OH)2], smithite [agass2], embolite [Ag
Br Cl], smithonite [znco3], hemimorphite
[Zn4Si2O7(OH)2.H2O], zinc sulphite [znso3], zinc
chromium oxides [zncr2o4], strontium dolomite
[mgsr(CO3)] and strontium sulphite. Principal
gangue minerals are calcite, dolomite, ankerite and
quartz.
2) The mineralized zone show hydrothermal
dolomitization, dissolution and brecciation. A
regular decrease in the primary ore mineral in the
mineralized zone rock samples is manifested with
the general trend of hematization (limonite and
hematite) and dolomitization (smoky dolomite) of
the host rocks.
3) In the site of the mineralized zone diverse
distribution patterns of Pb, Zn and Mo is recorded.
The highest contents of Pb (up to 1270 ppm) , Zn
(up to 3400 ppm) and Mo (up to 200 ppm) are
recorded at the contact with the fault plane. Such
results are related to the different mobility of the
three elements and the litho-structural effect of the
host rocks.
4) High contents of both Zn and Mo and to less extent
to Pb are recorded in the overburden located nearby
the fault zone as well.
5) The presence of anomalous Cu, Pb, Sr and Zn in the
bed rocks reflects probable presence of disseminated
ore minerals.
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6) The localization of the deposit along the fault zone
is attributed to low porosity, low permeability and
compactness of cherty limestone. Moreover, the
mode of occurrence of both Pb-Zn and celestite
deposits as pich and flat is related to the same
reason.
7) The recorded smithite and embolite which are low
temperature silver minerals favour that, this
oxidized mineralizion represents an upper part of
sulphide deposit where at deeper level sphalerite
zone could be expected.
Lithogeochemical studies to re-evaluate the
perspectives of Abu Ghorban deposit are recommended
by drilling to reach the deeper levels.
Acknowledgment:
The author is deeply indebted to Prof. Dr. M.M.
Hassaan, Al-Azhar University, for valuable advises,
continuous help in interpretation of the results and
effective suggestions and criticism of the manuscript.
The author would like to convey sincere thanks and
extreme appreciation to Prof. Dr. M. M. Ali and Prof.
Dr. A. El-Afandy, President and Vice-president of the
Egyptian NMA respectively, for the help offered to
analyze the samples, supporting, and continuous
encouragement.
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